Ripley wrote:
Absolutely on fire, fascinating stuff. Gruppetto in the mountains, methinks, to add more stages from breakaways later.

The Giro has seen Antonio Andolini go superhuman and show what he can really do with a bike between his legs. A new star is born and many cycling fans are already jumping on the hype-train. A new Sagan, a new Merckx, a new Hinault, a new Coppi. But as Antonio would say: it's just Antonio.

We've already reviewed these stages, so now we'll just focus on the Italian.


In the next sprint stage, Bouhanni managed to get his victory in a nice mass sprint. Andolini did his best but "only" managed an 11th place here.

Result - Stage 6

1	Nacer Bouhanni	Team Giant-Alpecin	4h19'33
2	Marc Sarreau	Ag2r La Mondiale	s.t.
3	Mark Cavendish	Team Sky	s.t.
4	Davide Appollonio	Cattelan Italia	s.t.
5	Niccolo Bonifazio	Etixx - Quick-step	s.t.
6	Jens Debusschere	MTN-Qhubeka	s.t.
7	Davide Cimolai	Movistar Team	s.t.
8	Elia Viviani	Orica-GreenEDGE	s.t.
9	Fernando Gaviria	IAM Cycling	s.t.
10	Andrea Guardini	Astana Pro Team	s.t.
11	Antonio Andolini	Cattelan Italia	s.t.

The next stage could've been something for him, with a finish similar to Huy. The final kilometer was steeply uphill but with his form and power he could ride for the win.

However, he let himself get drummed away a bit and in the uphill battle he was boxed in. According to him, that definitely cost him a podium spot and we happily believe him.


Fuglsang was the fastest uphill and took the win, while Ando took a respectable 7th place.

Result - Stage 7

1	Jakob Fuglsang	Orica-GreenEDGE	4h20'33
2	Carlos Alberto Betancur	MTN-Qhubeka	s.t.
3	Leopold König	Team Sky	s.t.
4	Nairo Quintana	Movistar Team	s.t.
5	Mikel Landa	Astana Pro Team	s.t.
6	Adam Yates	Team Sky	+ 34
7	Antonio Andolini	Cattelan Italia	s.t.
8	Fabio Aru	Astana Pro Team	s.t.
9	Simon Yates	BMC Racing Team	s.t.

And then came the first big mountain stage. For some, finally, for others, already. Ando must've felt his time in Pink was up. 8 stages was long enough. Cattelan and himself gave one final show in the Pink Jersey.


And there were candidates to take the jersey. As soon as they hit the mountains, Movistar hit the front. The pace skyrocketed.


For Ando, it was a disaster. He had to let the peloton go on the first climb. The Maglia Rosa was gone, so it seemed.


It's a credit to Ando that he himself led the gruppetto over the mountain.


Quintana flew over the mountain tops to the win and to Pink. The order has been restored!



Result - Stage 8

1	Nairo Quintana	Movistar Team	5h32'01
2	Philip Deignan	IAM Cycling	+ 1'22
3	Rigoberto Uran	Movistar Team	+ 1'31
4	Kevin Seeldraeyers	Etixx - Quick-step	+ 2'41
5	Vincenzo Nibali	Astana Pro Team	+ 3'07
6	Julian Arredondo	Team Sky	+ 3'24
7	Stefano Pirazzi	Trek Factory Racing	+ 3'32
8	Fabio Aru	Astana Pro Team	+ 3'42
9	Leão Palacios	Team LottoNL - Jumbo	+ 4'24
10	Mikel Landa	Astana Pro Team	s.t.

And how quickly our young Italian made his switch. If I can't be a climber, I'll be a sprinter, is probably what he said. In the next stage, Cattelan formed a sprint train for their man in Red, points jersey, Andolini.


Versatile, powerful, talented. It's a big credit to him that he even makes it to the front of a sprint in progress.


But under normal conditions, specialised sprinters have that little extra something in a final straight line, and Ando dropped back to 6th place. Still a very noteworthy place in a mass sprint, though!



Result - Stage 9

1	Marc Sarreau	Ag2r La Mondiale	5h47'55
2	Mark Cavendish	Team Sky	s.t.
3	Jens Debusschere	MTN-Qhubeka	s.t.
4	Danny Van Poppel	Team LottoNL - Jumbo	s.t.
5	Nacer Bouhanni	Team Giant-Alpecin	s.t.
6	Antonio Andolini	Cattelan Italia	s.t.
7	Niccolo Bonifazio	Etixx - Quick-step	s.t.
8	Davide Cimolai	Movistar Team	s.t.
9	Fernando Gaviria	IAM Cycling	s.t.
10	Davide Appollonio	Cattelan Italia	s.t.

And so on the first rest day, this is the situation:

General Classification

1	Nairo Quintana	Movistar Team	34h08'14
2	Rigoberto Uran	Movistar Team	+ 3'05
3	Vincenzo Nibali	Astana Pro Team	+ 3'26
4	Fabio Aru	Astana Pro Team	+ 5'10
5	Jakob Fuglsang	Orica-GreenEDGE	+ 8'01
6	Mikel Landa	Astana Pro Team	+ 8'42
7	Julian Arredondo	Team Sky	+ 9'28
8	Esteban Cháves	Orica-GreenEDGE	+ 10'56
9	Leopold König	Team Sky	+ 11'36
10	Diego Rosa	Cattelan Italia	+ 12'22
11	Carlos Alberto Betancur	MTN-Qhubeka	+ 12'33
12	Riccardo Zoidl	Trek Factory Racing	+ 12'47
13	Antonio Andolini	Cattelan Italia	+ 12'51
14	Simon Yates	BMC Racing Team	+ 13'05
15	Louis Meintjes	Etixx - Quick-step	+ 13'17

Points Classification

1	Antonio Andolini	Cattelan Italia	119
2	Marc Sarreau	Ag2r La Mondiale	79
3	Nacer Bouhanni	Team Giant-Alpecin	65
4	Danny Van Poppel	Team LottoNL - Jumbo	63
5	Nairo Quintana	Movistar Team	56

Mountain Points Classification

1	Philip Deignan	IAM Cycling	62
2	Nairo Quintana	Movistar Team	51
3	Kevin Seeldraeyers	Etixx - Quick-step	41
4	Rigoberto Uran	Movistar Team	21
5	Stefano Pirazzi	Trek Factory Racing	21

And so Andolini still holds the Points Jersey, with a nice lead over Sarreau, and the Young Rider Jersey, with 14 seconds over Yates. But the Maglia Rosa is where it belongs, and young Andolini will have to wait at least another year to wear that magnificant jersey.

Captain Bike Racer approves.

Mresuperstar wrote:
All hail the new Italian Peter Sagan. Go get that points jersey.

Thanks for making time for us, Rein.
No problem at all. I'm taking it easy today anyway. Always happy to help.

As you know, we represent the Antonio Andolini Fan Club. It may be interesting for you to introduce yourself and your relation to Antonio for our readers.
I'm Rein Taaramae, I'm from Estonia and I'm 30 years old. I've raced for Cofidis a long time. I'm a climber and someone who enjoys life as much as possible.
I was offered a contract to join Cattelan Italia and it didn't take much convincing to move here for my future. Antonio is my team mate and I've known him only a few months but we get along great, he's a very nice fellow.

How is the atmosphere in the team at the moment?
Very good, really. We make fun a lot and it's great to be on a roll in this Giro. Three stage wins is beyond our expectations and it's only the first rest day.

You tried to attack in the mountains. How are the legs?
I'm feeling really good, that's why I tried to get away, but Movistar was riding too hard and wouldn't risk anyone getting a gap.
I hope I can prove my form in later mountain stages.

What is Cattelan still hoping to achieve in this Giro?
We want to continue on our success, add another stage win to the counter. And, of course, try to keep that Red Jersey for Antonio. He's really made a goal of it and once something's in his head... But, it won't be easy.

How do you find his chances?
Well, he'll be under threat from two sides. Sarreau is not too far off and Quintana might take a few more stage wins. Both are more suited to win more stages are specialists, but Antonio will give them a good fight, I'm certain of that.

How is it to work for Antonio? Is he easy to work with, or a demanding team leader?
Antonio is Antonio. Off the bike he's always a gentle person. On the bike he's good, too, but he can really put you to work and it'll hurt in the evening. However after the race, the first thing he does is show his gratitude, even if the race didn't end like he wanted it to. That and his great success make it very easy to work for him and go 100%.
But in the mountains, I'll be working for myself! (laughs) And also for Rosa when neccessary.

Thanks so much for your time. Good luck, Rein, we hope you can give Cattelan a stage win in those mountains!
Thank you, I hope so, too, obviously!

Read the full report on our trip to the hotel here.

Ripley - Meh that'd be too regular thanks!

MasterBlaster01 -

Selwink - I hope so, too. Final flat time trial seems a decent shot!

The Schleck Fan - Yes, it's Todi.

rogvi97 - Good for you

The Schleck Fan - Never has been

sutty68 - He certainly has. This Giro shows what he has in him!

AbhishekLFC - Oh yes, I think so, too!

Reveille - 50 points is a good gap but remember there are always 2 intermediate sprints with 8 points to be earned and a flat finish 25 pts, mountain 15 pts. So a sprinter winning twice can already catch up.
It's definitely possible that Antonio will take it, but he's already had his best days (unless he wins another 3 stages, which seems unlikely) while others are only getting started, like Quintana.
Hard to judge, we'll have to wait and see. That final TT might bring some welcome 25 points, though, if Antonio can win it!

The Schleck Fan wrote:
Thanks a lot! Though I think you posted the finish location of stage 7 instead, because there is no chance that Todi is the finish location of stage 8
There wasn't a hotel report? Oh, nvm me then